Klarinet Archive - Posting 000544.txt from 2003/08

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: Re: [kl] Articulation Problems
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:35:06 -0400

Dear Howard, I would just pick any note on the clarinet and go
"du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-" over and over again, trying to get a very
nice legato sound. Find a buddy who has nice sounding articulation and
take turns echoing one another. First they go
"du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-du-" Then you do it.
At Cheyenne Mtn. Jr. High School, where I work as a "Clarinet
Sectional Rehearsal Person" (I'm Mr. Bell's 'band-aid')-- He brought in
a wonderful educator one morning from Colorado State University to
rehearse with the band. Most of the clarinetists in the band have bad
sounding articulation. This astounding educator told the clarinet
section to make believe that they were touching the reed with just one
tiny cell on the tip of their tongue. I thought about his wise choice of
words and decided to try it. I immediately became aware of the fact that
articulation has a lot to do with controlling the tongue, not only
rhythmically, but in the manner in which it touches the reed. In other
words, it is not necessarily a good idea to start off with
"staccatissimo" attacks. Nice, gentle, clean sounding "legato" seems to
work much better. I am always trying to work on my articulation because
I cannot articulate at "prestissimo". My speed is rather "moderato"
these days, so whatever I am able to do, I want it to sound pleasant.
ANNIE

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